Key Highlights

• Potato prices have sharply increased across Afghanistan
• Many families can no longer afford basic meals
• Job losses and border closures are worsening the situation
• Over 17 million people need urgent food support

People in Afghanistan are facing growing trouble as food prices continue to rise. Potatoes, once a cheap and common food, are now out of reach for many families. At the same time, job opportunities remain low, making daily life harder.

Food Prices Climb Across Regions

Residents from different provinces say potato prices vary but remain high everywhere. In Kabul, one seer costs about 400 afghanis. Prices in Badakhshan and Takhar are between 350 and 400 afghanis. In Mazar-e-Sharif, it is around 300 afghanis, while in Herat it has reached 420 afghanis.

Even in Ghor, prices differ, with five kilograms costing between 170 and 250 afghanis. These rising costs are making it hard for families to manage even basic meals.

Families Cut Down on Food

Many people say they have already removed items like rice and meat from their meals. Now, potatoes are also disappearing from their plates. For low-income families, potatoes were often the main food.

A Kabul resident shared that she stopped buying potatoes due to high prices and chose cheaper vegetables instead. She said even people with income are struggling to prepare proper meals.

Others say potatoes now cost almost as much as meat, which makes them unaffordable for most households.

Also read: Potato Storage Diseases and Simple Prevention

Jobs and Supply Issues Add Pressure

Unemployment remains a major issue across the country. People say they do not have enough income to keep up with rising prices.

Some residents believe that border closures with Pakistan and ongoing regional tensions have affected supply, leading to price increases. Farmers also face problems such as lack of proper storage, which limits local supply.

Warnings of a Growing Hunger Crisis

The World Food Programme has warned that the situation is getting worse. According to the agency, about 17.4 million people in Afghanistan need urgent food help.

Child malnutrition is also rising, with millions of children expected to need treatment this year. Many residents fear that if prices continue to rise, hunger will spread further.

With prices still rising and jobs hard to find, many Afghan families are left with fewer food choices each day. If the situation does not improve, more people may face serious hunger in the coming months.

Image Credit: javier albuja on Unsplash
News source: 8am media

Key Highlights

• Potato acreage drops below target in Bogura
• Farmers selling at BDT 9–12 per kg
• Production may still cross 1.33 million tonnes
• 40% of last year’s stock still in cold storage

Potato farming has declined in Bogura, Bangladesh as growers struggle with repeated losses. Even though yields remain strong this season, low prices have pushed many farmers into debt. Officials say output may still meet the target, but farmers are worried about survival.

Acreage Falls, Output May Rise

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bogura grows 48 local and high-yielding potato varieties. The Asterix variety, known locally as “Stick,” is the most planted this year.

Last year, 60,435 hectares were cultivated, exceeding the target. Production reached about 1.33 million tonnes. This season, the cultivation target was 55,750 hectares. Actual farming covered 54,465 hectares, falling short by 1,285 hectares.

So far, about 36 percent of the land has been harvested, producing nearly 400,000 tonnes. Officials believe total production may still cross the 1.33 million tonne target due to good yields.

Prices Below Cost

Despite healthy crops, market prices remain low. Early-season potatoes cost around BDT 14–16 per kg to produce. Yet farmers are selling at BDT 9–12 per kg in wholesale markets.

Md Firoz, a farmer from Ashokola village, said he spent BDT 18,000–20,000 per bigha but could not recover even half the cost last year. This year, he faces similar losses and carries a debt of BDT 30,000.

Traders are also affected. One local trader said potatoes bought at BDT 11 per kg last year and stored at a total cost of BDT 19–20 per kg are now selling below cost in the market.

Also read: Idaho Potatoes vs Russet Potatoes – What’s the Real Difference?

Storage Pressure Adds to Crisis

Bogura has 42 cold storage facilities with a combined capacity of about 450,000 tonnes. Around 40 percent of last year’s potatoes remain stored. Farmers planted new crops while old stocks were still in storage, adding to supply pressure.

Officials say increased supply has kept prices down. While preservation efforts were made last year, prices did not improve.

Even with good weather and steady yields, potato farmers in Bogura are under strain. Unless prices rise or storage pressure eases, many growers may reduce cultivation further next season.

Image credit: Akshat Jhingran on Unsplash
News source: bonikbarta

Key Highlights:

• Potato prices fall sharply across Bangladesh due to surplus stock.
• Farmers struggle as prices drop below production cost.
• Government fails to meet its 50,000 tonne procurement promise.
• New sowing begins while last season’s potatoes remain unsold.

Potato growers across Bangladesh are facing serious financial losses as prices have fallen sharply this season. Retail prices now range between Tk 15 and Tk 20 per kilogram, while cold storage gate prices are as low as Tk 9-11. The market crash, caused mainly by oversupply, has left both farmers and cold storage owners in distress.

Farmers said they are unable to recover even basic production cost, which is about Tk 15-16 per kilogram. The government had earlier fixed the price at Tk 22 per kilogram at cold storage gates and promised to buy 50,000 tonnes to support farmers. However, the procurement plan did not move forward, causing further price decline.

Also read: Global Potato Crisp Market to Reach USD 45 Billion by 2035

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, potato production during the 2024-25 financial year reached a record 1.15 crore tonnes from 4.92 lakh hectares of land, about a 9 percent rise compared to the previous year. But the demand, as per the Tuber Crops Research Centre, remains around 90 lakh tonnes per year, including 10 lakh tonnes used as seed and 80 lakh tonnes for food and processing.

With excess stock and low demand, prices at cold storages and local markets have dropped sharply. Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu, president of the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA), said around 18–19 lakh tonnes of potatoes, including both table and seed varieties, are still stored across the country.

“The government promised to buy 50,000 tonnes but didn’t keep its word. Without proper monitoring or purchase, prices crashed even more,” Babu said. He added that though the government announced incentives for farmers, these have not yet been distributed.

On August 23, Agriculture Adviser Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the government would purchase potatoes to reduce farmers’ losses. The BCSA later requested that these be included in social safety and ration schemes, but procurement has not yet started.

Attempts to reach Agriculture Ministry Secretary Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian for comment were unsuccessful. Trading Corporation of Bangladesh Chairman Brig Gen Mohammad Foyshol Azad said he had no information on the matter. An official from the agriculture ministry, speaking anonymously, confirmed that an initial procurement move had begun but was paused for unclear reasons.

With the new sowing season already underway, the official said there is little chance of any large scale purchase from farmers this year.

BCSA data shows about 20 lakh tonnes of potatoes are still stored in more than 350 cold storages across Bangladesh. As the next harvest season approaches in December, industry groups warn that the market could face a complete collapse if no measures are taken.

Major potato growing areas like Munshiganj, Rangpur, Bagura, Rajshahi, Naogaon and Joypurhat have all reported heavy losses. Many farmers cannot sell their potatoes even at cost and large quantities have started to rot in storage.

Despite the market slump, some farmers have begun sowing early potato varieties, hoping to sell them before the main harvest. Yet this year’s situation remains uncertain, last season’s stock remains unsold and export numbers are low.

Bangladesh exported only about 62,000 tonnes of potatoes and processed products worth $40 million in FY25, according to the Export Promotion Bureau. The slow export performance has added more pressure on the domestic market.

With rising production and weak demand, Bangladesh’s potato market is under severe strain. Farmers are calling on the government to act quickly, restart procurement and provide the promised support. Without intervention, the next harvest season could deepen their financial crisis even further.

Source: New Agebd
Image credit: Pixabay by Orhan Can